Man with severe facial swelling seeks help amid AI claims

A man with severe facial swelling and pain appealed for assistance after being accused of using AI to fake his condition on social media. A doctor stated there is no strong evidence linking tooth-picking to oral cancer. On August 9, 2026, a Facebook user named "Mes, Little Prince" shared the story of a 31-year-old man, identified as "P'Poo," who lived with his partner in a small room in an unspecified province.

"P'Poo" said his left facial side was severely swollen, and he was in excruciating pain, warning that his condition might worsen, and he could be gone soon. He posted photos seeking help online but later claimed some individuals accused him of using AI or editing the images. "P'Poo" initially suffered from tooth decay; food got trapped around the affected tooth, which led to repeated use of toothpicks.

This caused inflammation and a growth on the left side of his face. A plastic surgeon, Dr. Aon Chatraphon, addressed the claims and hypothesized the man might have oral mucosal cancer that had spread towards the tooth roots. However, he emphasized that this diagnosis could not be confirmed until pathology results were available.

Dr. Aon also clarified that tooth-picking does not have strong scientific evidence to be a direct cause of oral cancer, and there are established risk factors like alcohol consumption, smoking, and HPV infection. He noted that the growth and tooth-picking habits could have occurred simultaneously without one causing the other. Dr. Aon urged "P'Poo" to seek medical treatment immediately as the growth appeared advanced, and he offered his support for the man's speedy recovery.